Chapter 507

Novel Updates! Hehe I get so giddy whenever this happens, it’s one of the first things I check everyday xD

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Chapter 507 Bracing for War

“Star gal…?” Qiao Jiajin lowered his head silently. “Star gal, she…”

His words caught in his throat, and the surrounding members of the {Cats} all wore expressions of quiet sorrow.

“She did very well.” Qian Five was no fool and immediately interrupted. “Though I wasn’t on-site, I know Ning Eighteen must have done everything she could to help everyone. We look forward to her return next cycle.”

Having long grown used to such moments, most {Cats} did not succumb to sorrow.

Qian Five then turned to Bai Nine and asked, “The bell’s toll was incessant earlier. What was the result of your {Reverberations}?”

After making the rounds, Qian Five assessed everyone’s progress and found that, apart from the captain, all members of Qi Xia’s team had already triggered their {Reverberation}.

In Qiao Jiajin’s team of seven, aside from those who had already triggered their {Reverberation}, namely {Growth Acceleration} Ning Eighteen, {Sound Insulation} Yun Nineteen, and {Mighty Gale} Qiu Twenty, only Qiao Jiajin had obtained his {Reverberation}.

As for the remaining Bai Nine, Luo Fifteen, and Feng Seventeen, their {Reverberation triggers} are largely tied to {fatigue}, {hunger}, or {fear of darkness}. Compared to the others, these should be easy to induce; simply lock the three of them separately in dark rooms tonight and deprive them of sleep, and by morning they would likely all trigger {Reverberation} by morning.

“And your team?” Qi Xia asked Qian Five. “Have they all triggered their {Reverberation}?”

“No.” Qian Five shook his head. “I’m afraid my skill falls short. None of the interns have triggered their {Reverberation}, but…”

He glanced back at Officer Li, who nodded and stepped forward.

“Qi Xia, I have already triggered {Reverberation}.”

Officer Li’s words left both Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin momentarily stunned.

“You did?” Qi Xia sized up Officer Li, noticing not a single scratch or injury on him. “What? I distinctly recall your {Reverberation trigger} being on the {brink of death}.”

As Qi Xia spoke, realization dawned on him… Could it be that, precisely because he was in Qian Five’s team, Officer Li was able to break free of his near death state and recover his health?

“We were all wrong…” Officer Li gave a wry smile and shook his head. “Even I thought my {Reverberation trigger} was {brink of death}… but that isn’t the truth.”

“What?”

Qian Five turned to Qi Xia and explained, “It is certainly prone to misunderstanding. Only after sufficient time with Li Four would one know… His {trigger} isn’t {brink of death}, but it bears a close connection to it.”

Qi Xia furrowed his brows as he listened. Having witnessed Officer Li’s death twice, he briefly considered the circumstances of Officer Li’s near-death states. Could there have been some other factor these two deaths shared besides {brink of death}?

It couldn’t possibly be {lost right hand}… could it?

Qi Xia lowered his head and searched his memory. In just a few seconds, the answer surfaced.

At both moments when Officer Li was nearing death, he had spoken the same words: “Qi Xia, my death is my atonement…”

(TLN: I went back to check the previous chapters, he only said this line in his first death (chapter 68). He didn't say that, or anything similar on the second one (c145). I checked the direct source (fanqie).)

As soon as those words left his mouth, his expression would immediately ease. The gloom vanished from his face, and the {bell toll} would follow soon after.

That was his true {Reverberation trigger}.

“Officer Li must unburden his heart,” Qi Xia remarked. “In the past, you could only let it go when you were close to death. That’s why we mistakenly believed your {trigger} was {brink of death}.”

“That’s exactly it,” Officer Li nodded. “If not for Qian Five, I might never have realized that my true way of triggering {Reverberation} could be this simple…”

Qi Xia nodded as well, knowing this was a good thing. Officer Li shared the same {Reverberation} as Black Tortoise. If properly developed, it would surely become a formidable combat strength.

As everyone continued talking, an unusually small figure emerged from a nearby building. Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin both turned at the sound, only to see a short Terrestrial Pig step out.

“Such haste, shapeshifter. Do you intend to rush straight to your demise? Have you truly forsaken your {Dào}?” A cold, gloomy voice issued from Terrestrial Pig’s small body, his tone thick with impatience.

Without waiting for a response,Terrestrial Pig casually tossed a cloth bundle into the air.

Qian Five did not move at all as the bundle flew toward him. Instead, Luo Eleven leapt high and caught it in midair.

“Talking to our Five ge like that, who do you think you are?” Luo Eleven weighed the cloth bundle in his hand, his face full of arrogant disdain.

“Oh…?” Terrestrial Pig took a few steps forward and stopped in front of Luo Eleven. He was a full head shorter than Luo Eleven, yet his presence was deeply intimidating.

“And what are you, exactly?” Terrestrial Pig sneered. “A toad dares hop onto my instep, do you imagine this will disgust me?”

“I dare to hop. What are you going to do about it?” Luo Eleven tossed the cloth bundle back to Bai Nine, his tone unyielding. “Not only do I want to hop onto your instep, I also want to cripple one of your legs. You gonna let me or what?”

“Heh…” Terrestrial Pig was clearly provoked. He suddenly reached out and shoved Luo Eleven to the ground. “By what qualification do you dare clamor against me? Just because I can’t kill you, do you assume I can’t teach you a lesson?”

“Motherfu—” 

Luo Eleven had just gotten back to his feet when Zhou Six stepped forward, placing herself squarely between the two. “Tsk. Short stuff, does knocking someone over give you a sense of accomplishment?”

“Indeed it does.” Terrestrial Pig nodded. “With mortal flesh, you dare dream of opposing the gods? The sight of your feeble forms alone makes me want to laugh.”

{Mighty Gale} Qiu Twenty also stepped forward. He reached out, pulled Luo Eleven up, then stood shoulder to shoulder with the other two. “Laugh? You’ve got a pig’s face and you still dare laugh? Watch how you talk to my Six jie and Eleven ge.”

The most unruly figures present now stood locked in confrontation at the center, making the others shake their heads helplessly.

“Enough.” Qian Five’s voice came softly, yet carried undeniable authority. “Everyone, come here and listen to my arrangements.”

Hearing this, the three who had been trading insults with Terrestrial Pig immediately reined in their expressions. Without a word, they spat onto the ground beside Terrestrial Pig, then turned and walked back to Qian Five. Only Qi Xia remained at a distance, quietly studying the diminutive {Earthly Branch}.

“Everyone,” Qian Five began in a low voice. “Tomorrow’s {Celestial Horse's Hour} is of paramount importance. If nothing goes awry, we’ll leave the {prison} at noon and scatter into unfamiliar territory. Those who have already triggered their {Reverberation} are to prepare food and drink sufficient for two days, packaged in small portions, and distribute them this evening to all, including the newly arrived xiōngdìs and the interns. Wang Eight, see it done.”

“Got it, Five ge.” Wang Eight nodded. “Leave the provisions to me. Even if there’s only a single grain of rice, I’ll magnify it a thousandfold.”

“Ten thousandfold,” Qian Five corrected.

“Alright!” Wang Eight nodded firmly. He then turned and called over Luo Eleven, Qiu Sixteen, Yun Nineteen, Qiu Twenty, along with the interns. After exchanging parting words with Qian Five, Qi Xia, and Qiao Jiajin, they went on their way.

Qian Five then looked toward the few remaining members who had yet to trigger their {Reverberation} and beckoned them over as well. “When you return, lock yourselves in isolation. If you haven’t triggered your {Reverberation} by dawn, then die in the isolation room.”

“Understood!”

By now, nearly all members of {Cats} had withdrawn. Only Qian Five, Zhou Six, Qi Xia, Qiao Jiajin, and Officer Li remained on the scene.

“It can’t be true…?” Qi Xia fixed Qian Five with a grave look. “You intend to—”

“Correct.” Qian Five nodded. “We still have half a day left. Qi Xia, what is your {Reverberation trigger}?”

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TL Note: Rant goes here ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)